The teen guitar sensation made an impressive in-studio visit for Local Spins on WYCE, which this week also premiered tracks by Cruelworld, The Autumnatic, Desmond Jones, Hominian, Jukejoint Handmedowns, Gifts or Creatures and more. And check out Cruelworld’s new video.
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For 16-year-old blues guitar sensation Jake Kershaw, the whirlwind of the past several months playing for large — and many times new — audiences, releasing his debut album, bolstering his band lineup and attracting widespread media attention has been nothing short of, well, “really cool.”
“It’s just a different feel and a different vibe for me that I’m not used to, but I’m liking a lot,” the Marshall guitarist says of being in the spotlight for his awe-inspiring musicianship and new recording, “Piece of My Mind.”
“I think I’m getting maybe a little more attention than I used to which is really cool. I like the new feel and I like where I’m going, so I hope it continues this way.”
Meanwhile, for singer Matt Forbush (Alexis), whose new project, Cruelworld, debuted its first single and video on Friday, it’s a bold and dreamy new exploration of his unique take on pop. (Watch the video below.)
“It’s moody and introspective for sure,” Forbush says of his new music. “I’m the kind of person who aims to have a positive attitude and a healthy emotional outlook on life, but I think taking time for oneself to think through personal losses and failures is just as much a part of that.
“I wanted to create something that was representative of those times, but to also keep that feeling of energy and movement. I think it’s a great batch of songs to play through headphones on a night spent alone. Maybe lower the lights, have a drink or two and dance with yourself like no one is watching.”
Both artists made a splash this week for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered dynamic new tracks by The Autumnatic, Desmond Jones, Hominian, Gifts or Creatures and The Jukejoint Handmedowns, whose new Michigan-hued album even features a track paying homage to, yes, “WYCE.”
Listen to the full podcast and all of the songs here.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (Sept. 22, 2017)
Kershaw and his band — bassist Andy Merrild and drummer Chip Herbert — brought their wall-rattling blues rock into WYCE-FM’s Studio X for the show, performing two songs live from the new album: “Going Home” and “Chip Herbert.”
Amid juggling homework as a junior at Marshall High School and “late-night rehearsals,” Kershaw will play an official album-release show on Oct. 19 at The Stache in The Intersection in Grand Rapids, with Conrad Shock & The Noise opening.
His album, recorded at Bill Chrysler’s Third Coast Recording in Grand Haven, already is available via iTunes, CDBaby.com, Google Music Store and elsewhere. As Kershaw puts its, the recording “has the vibe that I really, really like.” (Read more about Kershaw in this Local Spins feature story.)
Cruelworld’s unique video, meanwhile, was edited and remixed by Anna Gustafson using found footage in the public domain.
VIDEO: Cruelworld, “Runaways”
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